What the Fallen Tree Hid- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Nora grips a wooden box of medicine and hurries along the narrow stream path. The veterinarian at the valley farm waits on the far side. The visit ends when the sun touches the ridge. Autumn rain from the morning now slowly gathers. Brown water creeps over the flat stones beside her boots. A low wooden footbridge now stands just ahead. A storm-broken tree has fallen across its middle. The worn planks bend under the trunk and leave no space for a quick walk. Cool damp air carries the smell of wet leaves. A jay whistles from an unseen branch nearby.

Water climbs past the first bridge rail and swirls against the trunk. The rising stream shows the deadline moving again. Two routes appear: a gentle hill trail, safe but long, and the slick trunk, short but risky. She presses the box against her jacket and chooses speed. One hand reaches for support while the other balances the box. Bark peels and drops into the current below. Her sleeve tears, and cold water splashes over her shoes. Midway, a small tin corner glints under the trunk. She slides it out and sees bright coins from an old fair inside. She leaves the coins and reaches the far bank. Overhead, the late wind finally eases above the trees. A late ray slides across the quiet water.

Nora抓著一盒藥物，沿着狹窄的溪邊小徑快步前進。山谷農場的獸醫在對岸等她。只要太陽碰到山脊，今天最後的看診就結束。清晨的秋雨此刻又匯成水流，褐色水面爬過她靴旁平坦的石頭。一座低矮的木橋出現在前方，而一棵被風暴折斷的樹倒在橋中央。被踩舊的木板在樹幹下彎曲，已經沒有空隙能讓人快速通過。涼而濕的空氣帶着落葉的氣味。一隻松鴉在看不見的枝頭附近吹口哨。

水位越過第一根橋欄，並在樹幹旁旋轉。上漲的溪流再次顯示迫近的時限。她眼前出現兩條路：一條安全但漫長的緩坡山徑，以及一條濕滑但直線的倒木。她把盒子緊貼外套，選擇了速度。單手伸出作為支撐，另一手保持盒子平衡。樹皮剝落，掉進下方水流。她的袖口被扯破，冷水濺濕鞋面。走到一半，她看到樹幹下有一角錫盒閃光。她把它滑出，發現裡面有舊集市留下的亮閃閃硬幣。她沒拿硬幣，踏上對岸的礫石。頭頂的晚風終於在樹梢之上停歇。微弱餘暉在靜水面上滑動。